HMD Global, a finish company who owns the rights to manufacture and sell phones under Nokia branding is now set to unveil their first flagship, Nokia 8 on July 31. We have been hearing a lot of leaks and rumours regarding the smartphone, but the phone was now finally spotted on the company's Chinese website. The website flaunts the front side of the smartphone. However, the webpage is not accessible now as it has been taken down by the company.
As per the previous leaks and rumours, the Nokia 8 is said to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage which is further expandable via a microSD card. The smartphone also features a dual 13-megapixel camera on the back and an 8-megapixel camera on the front. The phone is said to sport a 5.3-inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 1440X2560 and the model number of the smartphone was tipped to be TA-1004.
However, there is no confirmation on the specifications of the upcoming flagship, and these specifications are only based on the leaks and rumours. Previous reports also claim that the smartphone will come at a price of €589 which in India would be roughly Rs. 43,500 (Prices may vary depending on the country).
Nokia 6, currently the most costly phone by launched by HMD Global will go on sale on August 23 priced at Rs. 14,999. You can register for the device on Amazon India.
Sony India has today unveiled its stunning super mid-range model in its refreshed “X” series, Xperia XA1 Ultra. Building on the success of last year’s XA Ultra, XA1 Ultra features a gorgeous edge to edge 15.24 cm borderless design to make the most of the display. The smartphone comes with two great cameras that are you only get to see in high-end premium devices.
Specifications
As far as the specifications are concerned, Sony XA1 Ultra is powered by an octa-core Mediatek MT6757 Helio P20 and for the graphics, the phone includes a Mali-T880MP2 GPU. The phone comes with a 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for your media and applications. The smartphone is backed by a 2700mAh battery and supports Quick Charge 3.0 which can charge the phone up to 60% in 45 minutes.
Camera
In the camera department, XA1 Ultra offers a 23-megapixel high-resolution primary camera with a large 1/2.3” Exmor™RS for mobile sensor, bright F2.0 lens and superior low light capability. The company guarantees a super fast journey from launch to capture in 0.6s and incredibly fast and accurate Hybrid Autofocus, so even the most spontaneous moments are always in focus. Up front, the smartphone features a 16-megapixel front camera with Optical Image Stabilizer to eliminate the effects of handshakes and improve low-light selfies. The device comes with a Smart selfie flash to naturally illuminate your face, which can deliver great selfies even in low-light conditions. It allows you to capture the perfect selfie easily with just a wave via the ‘Hand Shutter’ camera feature which we have seen earlier on many other smartphones.
Software
Sony XA1 Ultra comes with Android Nougat out-of-the-box with a new feature which the company likes to call Xperia Actions. Xperia Actions is a new addition to XA1 Ultra that aims to learn your usage patterns to simplify your daily life by suggesting customisable settings and personalised recommendations. For example, when you go to bed your Xperia can learn your bedtime routine and automatically adjust the screen brightness and call volume. Or if you have travel plans your Xperia will be able to assist you before and when you arrive by detecting your location at an airport and suggesting you allow it to download offline maps and a local language dictionary.
Price, Availability and Launch Offers
The Sony XA1 Ultra is available in both online and offline markets at a price tag of Rs. 29,990. The phone comes in three colour variants- Black, White and Gold. With the purchase of the XA1 Ultra, the company offers free 3 months subscription of Sony LIV and if you purchase the new Style Cover Stand (SCSG40) with the XA1 Ultra, the company will offer Rs. 1000/- off.
According to a recent report by The Bell, Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics is expected to launch the Galaxy S9 and S9+ with the same shape and size as of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ respectively. Reports claim that Samsung has given the display-specifications of the S9 to its display-making unit. The Samsung Galaxy S9 is said to come with a 5.77-inch display, while the S9+ will sport a larger 6.22-inch display.
Samsung will also continue with their “Infinity Display” design pattern with no physical home button. Reports also suggest that the company may give an attempt to in-screen embedded fingerprint scanner which couldn’t make its way to the S8 due to some technical issues. This year the company will not take any risks with their flagship devices, as per the reports.
Meanwhile, few reports claim that Samsung is set to unveil the Galaxy Note 8 on August 23 in New York, United States of America.
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ are powered by the Exynos 8895 Octa-core processor coupled with the Mali-G71 MP20 GPU. The S8 features a beautiful 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440x2960 pixels and a pixel density of 570 ppi. Meanwhile, the S8+ comes with a larger 6.2-inch display. The S8 and S8+ come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. On the camera department, the smartphones have a 12-megapixel primary camera with an aperture of f/1.7 and phase detection autofocus, Optical Image Stabilization and a LED flash. For selfies and video calling, the phones have an 8-megapixel autofocus camera with f/1.7 aperture.
Google's Android is an open source operating system, which gives developers an advantage where they can tweak with the stock operating system and make custom builds which can deliver more features, advanced options or even smoother performance. Custom ROMs come with a set of advantages which give users a temptation to try them. Not every smartphone get updated to the latest version of Android by their OEMs. So, people can flaunt new android versions on their good old devices. Moreover, some people don't like the bloatware or the custom OEM skins on their phone. However, it gets tough when there are a lot of custom ROMs to choose from. Here we list out some immense custom ROMs available for wide range of devices and run flawlessly.
There are few things you should keep in mind before installing a custom ROM:
Installing a custom ROM needs a custom recovery which can void your smartphone's warranty
These custom ROMs are not universal and come only for a set of devices. However, we have selected only those ROMs which support a wide range of devices.
We are not responsible for any damage caused to your smartphone during the installation
Kindly find your phone's support for the ROM and read description carefully for the present bugs(if any).
Here are the Top 5 Custom Android Builds according to us:
1.) LineageOS:
LineageOS is a successor of the CyanogenMod which was initially started as a community that runs open source ROM which fixed many issues of carrier bloat and unliked skins from manufacturers on early Android phones. LineageOS now takes the place of the beloved CyanogenMod and keeps up with the promise to give latest android version updates to the older devices. The ROM gives seamless experience by providing Nexus-like stock UI without any bloatware. These ROMs are usually stable and any fixes needed soon come through an OTA update.
2.) Paranoid Android
Paranoid Android is another community which works on custom Android builds and provides great and flawless experience through AOSP (Android Open Source Project). The custom ROM has an appealing interface that you can customise the way you want. The ROM includes some features like hover notifications, a cool immersive mode which hides the status and navigation bars, dynamic system bars, peek notifications from lock screen and ability to use gestures instead of the navigation buttons. This ROM officially supports Nexus, Oppo, OnePlus and few other devices. However other devices are also supported via unofficial channels.
3.) Resurrection Remix
Resurrection Remix is another custom ROM which is said to be the most stable ROM. This is a feature rich ROM with a lot of options to customise. The RR ROM allows you to personalise everything, notifications drawer to the navigation buttons, the lock screen and the animations. Some of the attractive features are Pitch Black dark theme, customizable notifications and more. The ROM is specially designed for the people who like to mess around with every element in the interface. Resurrection Remix's website states that it has an amalgam of features from other popular ROMs.
4.) Bliss ROM
Bliss ROMs are one of the most highly customizable ROMs which provides users feature rich interface with a lot of tweaking options. Some of the features Bliss offers are Status Bar Tuner with additions in System UI Tuner, Clock customizations located in Blissify app, Status Bar gestures - DT2S, Notification Count, etc located in Blissify app Network Traffic Monitor also located in Blissify app. Bliss has support for wide range of devices and frequently updates for any bugs and fixes.
5.) OmniROM
OmniROM is another ROM that provides vanilla android experience with seamless and smooth performance. The ROM is developed by ex-Cyanogen developers. The ROM brings enhancements to your Android experience by adding some features like OmniJAWS weather service, DSPManager, delta update system, dark mode UI, quick settings panel, enhanced Do Not Disturb mode along with the many more customization and personalization options. OmniROM is available for most of the popular smartphones.
Beyerdynamic, a German audio equipment maker, has launched their DT 770 Pro reference headphones in India. The DT 770 Pro is a 32ohms version and is the latest addition to their series that are specially designed to function with mobile devices.
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is for experienced sound professionals, used in countless studios throughout the world. Beyerdynamic, the audio specialist from Heilbronn in Germany has launched a special edition of the DT 770 Pro with an impedance of 32 ohms for optimal use with smartphones, mobile players and notebooks.
The studio legend goes mobile
The roots of the legendary Beyerdynamic DT 770/880/990 line go back to 1981. Their outstanding sound and durable design laid the foundation for these headphones’ unprecedented studio and stage career. The 32-ohm version of the DT 770 Pro is the latest addition to the series and has been optimised for use with portable devices.
The new technologies of the mobile computing revolution – tablet computers, smartphones, etc. – enable creative professionals to turn their inspirations into results, anytime and anywhere, without having to get to the studio first. The output of mobile devices is usually too weak to handle standard studio impedances of 80 to 250 ohms. The result is a strained sound that isn’t loud enough because high impedances are too much for the mini-amplifiers. The new 32-ohm version of the DT 770 Pro is the solution for all artists who don’t want to go without their favourite equipment for checking and mixing audio while on-the-go. This is because the new model offers exactly the same sound quality as its studio-optimized counterparts and maintains large volume reserves even when working with weaker output levels. Combining a balanced sound with long-term wearing comfort, thanks to the smooth soft skin ear cushions, the new DT 770 Pros now allow you to take your favourite studio sound with you, wherever you are in the world.
Proven and reliable
As most audio professionals know, DT 770 Pro headphones are virtually indestructible. Even if you are unfortunate enough to experience a breakage, nearly every part can be replaced individually, thanks to intelligent design and implementation. The new DT 770 Pro maintains this clever design ethos by offering a shorter connection cable (1.6 m) to keep things convenient when using it with portable devices.
Features of the DT 770 Pro
• 32-ohm system especially for mobile use: higher output power at lower input levels
• Closed, diffuse-field equalised studio headphones
• Soft skin (artificial leather) ear cushions for easy cleaning and better
suppression of ambient noise
• Single-sided 1.6 m connection cable
• Innovative bass reflex system
• Sturdy, comfortably padded headband design with adjustable spring steel
construction
• Sturdy, easy-to-maintain design with parts that can easily be replaced
Specifications
Transducer type Dynamic
Operating principle Closed
Nominal frequency response 5 - 35,000 Hz
Nominal impedance 32 Ω
Nominal SPL 96 dB SPL
Nominal T.H.D. < 0.2%
Power handling capacity 100 mW
Sound coupling to ear Circumaural
Ambient noise isolation approx. 20 dB(A)
Nominal headband pressure approx. 3.5 N
Weight (without cable) 270 g
Length and type of cable 1.6 m straight cable
Connection Gold plated stereo jack plug (3.5 mm)
and 1/4" adapter (6.35 mm)
Beyerdynamic has priced the DT 770 Pro at Rs. 14,500 with a warranty of two years. These headphones will be available via Amazon India, headphonezone or directly from the manufacturer's website.
Xiaomi is now set to launch the most awaited update of the MIUI on July 26. The MIUI 9 will be launched along with their upcoming Xiaomi Mi 5X. As of now, the latest version of MIUI is the MIUI 8 which is based on Google's Android Marshmallow operating system. The upcoming MIUI 9 update is supposed to run on Android Nougat. The launch is said to take place at the China National Conventional Center.
Select Xiaomi devices will be receiving the MIUI update along with the Android Nougat. The devices selected by the company are as follows
Mi 4C
Mi 4s
Mi Note
Mi Max
Mi 5
Mi 5s
Mi 5s Plus
Redmi Note 4X
Mi 6
Mi Max 2
Mi 5c
Redmi 4X
Mi Note 2
Mi Mix
The devices mentioned above will soon be updated to the MIUI 9 with new features. Here are the new features that come along with the update:
Multi-Window Support - A feature which was brought to the stock android users with the Nougat update is now also coming for MIUI users through the MIUI 9 update. This will allow users to use multiple apps simultaneously. This feature brings an advantage to large phones like the Mi Max and Mi Max 2.
Quick-reply - This is also a part of the nougat update where users can easily respond to notifications without going inside the application.
New Lock Screen - Xiaomi has provided a revamped design to the lock screen.
Above mentioned features are just a few highlights and the new ROM is said to come with many more changes. According to the reports, the company's CEO Lei Jun has confirmed that the MIUI 9 will be much more stable and smoother as compared to the MIUI 8. The release date as mentioned by the company is July 26, which is only for the China variants of the smartphone. After the China launch, Xiaomi will soon roll-out the update for the Global variants.
Xiaomi has today launched the Mi Max 2 in India at a launch event in New Delhi. The phablet is priced at Rs. 16,999 and its unique selling point is that it flaunts a large 6.44-inch display and packs a massive 5,300mAh battery.
Specifications
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor coupled with Adreno 506 GPU. The phablet features a large 6.4-inch Full HD Display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The company has launched a single variant of the phablet in India which comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. In the camera department, the device includes a 12-megapixel primary camera with dual-tone LED flash and a 5-megapixel camera on the front with beautify feature for better selfie shots. Mi Max 2 runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat with MIUI 8 layered on top of it. The company also promises an update to MIUI 9 will roll-out soon for the phablet. The phone also sports a fingerprint scanner at the back. A massive 5,300mAh battery provides power to this huge phablet which also charges up to 68 percent in an hour using the Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0. Mi Max 2 supports all basic connectivity options including the 4G VoLTE and a USB Type-C port.
Price, Availability and Offers
Xiaomi has priced the Mi Max 2 at Rs. 16,999 and will go on sale from July 27. The phone will be made available on online as well as offline stores. Mi Max 2 will be available on the company’s own online store and other e-commerce websites like Flipkart and Amazon. However, Tata Cliq and Croma stores will also hold sales of the same. Customers buying the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 will get up to 100GB of 4G data through Reliance Jio.
HMD Global, the company which has been on everyone’s mind since the launch of the Nokia 3, 5 and 6, has now launched a new feature phone at a price as low as Rs. 999. This new feature phone is the Nokia 105 and is available in two variants – single SIM and Dual SIM.
The Single SIM variant of the Nokia 105 is priced at Rs. 999 whereas the dual SIM version costs slightly higher at Rs. 1,149. The prices of the phones are excluding taxes and subsidies. Both the variants of the Nokia 105 feature phone will hit the markets on July 19. However, the company also has plans on launching another feature phone in India, the Nokia 130 which is planned to introduce in September.
HMD Global CEO Arto Nummela, said, “With more than four billion people remaining offline and unable to benefit from the social and economic development opportunities of the internet, simply getting connected by voice and text is still such an important step for many people around the world,” He further added that more than 400 million feature phones were sold globally in 2016. It is estimated that there are over 1.3 billion feature phone users across the world, mainly in markets like Asia and Africa. “We cannot underestimate the need and benefit of being connected and we are dedicated to delivering devices that can enable many people around the world to expand their horizon,” Nummela stated.
This new Nokia 105 is a revamped version of the same model which was launched around four years ago. The older version of the Nokia 105 sold well over 200 million units. The new Nokia 5 comes with a larger 1.8-inch colour display and new tactile keyboard. It comes with 4MB of RAM and 4MB of internal storage which can be used to save contacts. The phone runs on Nokia S30+ platform and will also come with basic games pre-installed.
In today's world, where everyone is switching to latest smartphones, some people still prefer feature phones as they are more handy and convenient. Some people even like to use these feature phones as their secondary devices as these phones have a great battery life which significantly lasts longer than that of a smartphone.
Panasonic, a Japanese tech giant, has launched a new smartphone today in India. The Panasonic P55 Max is a powerhouse as it is backed by a massive 5,000 mAh battery. This time Panasonic has tied up with Flipkart and made this smartphone a Flipkart Exclusive one.
Mr. Pankaj Rana, Business Head – Mobility Division, Panasonic India, stated, “In today’s connected world, smartphones have become the lifeline drawing parallels amongst work-life balance. Be it home, work or, anywhere ZipPlay –understands and maps your need to help simplify your life. The long lasting 5000mAh battery further ensures the seamless functioning without interruptions. We believe, P55 Max will be the quintessential solution-provider for individuals in the value-based smartphone segment.”
Panasonic P55 Max is powered by a MediaTek MTK6737 chipset which is quad-core processor clocked at 1.25GHz. The smartphone comes with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of on-board storage which is further expandable up to 128GB through a micro-SD card. The phone sports a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. P55 Max also features a 13-megapixel primary camera with autofocus and quad-LED flash. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel camera for selfies and video calling.The device runs on Android 7.0 Nougat with the company's own custom UI on top of it. This smartphone supports basic connectivity options including the 4G VoLTE and some basic sensors are also present like - Accelerometer, proximity sensor, and ambient light sensor.
Panasonic P55 Max is now available exclusively on Flipkart in two colour variants - Matte Black and Champagne Gold at a price tag of Rs. 8,499.
Reliance Jio’s upcoming feature phone has been on trend lately and many people are excited to see what Jio is up to with the new device. As per the early reports, Jio’s 4G VoLTE feature phone is supposed to launch on 21 July 2017. The phone is being launched under the brand name LYF. As the phone is said to be really cheap and support basic social apps, it is gaining a lot of hype.
According to a recent report by Techook, the phone’s cost which was rumoured at Rs. 500 is not sure, rather the phone could be priced slightly higher at over Rs. 1000. As per the reports, the company will be bringing few bundles and offers along with the new phone which will bring the phone’s cost down to Rs. 500. However, we still do not have any information on what plans Jio is planning to offer with the upcoming feature phone.
In the industry, phones have been categorised as feature phones, smartphone, communicators, etc. As per the reports, here with the upcoming feature phone, Jio might now introduce a new category, which they like to call Smart-Feature Phone. There have been leaks and rumours that the device is capable of running basic social-media applications like WhatsApp messenger and Facebook. Those rumours might now tend to be a reality as the recent reports claim that Jio will call it a Smart-Feature phone as it is capable of running such apps. This new device will also be able to run some of the company’s own apps.
